Flexible and resilient vehicle coupling



L. E. LUBBERS Y Y FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT VEHICLE 'COUPLING April 2, 1935.

originl Filed oct. 2s, 1931- s sheets-sheet 1,

April 2, 193.5. L. E. LUBBERS 1,996,162

FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT VEHICLE COUPLING Original Filed Oct. 23, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2" l. Zzzbref PllfZ 1935 A E. LUBBERS. l 1,996,162

' FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT VEHICLE GOUPLENG- Original Filed.A Oct. 23, 19.51 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwumto/o Patented Apr. 2, 1935 l i Y FLEXIBLE 'AND nEsmEN'r vEmcLE coUPLmG v Lubbers E. Lubbers, Stoughton, wis., assigne;- te

The New Stoughton Company, Stoughton, Wis., i a corporation of Wisconsin Substitute for abandoned application Serial No. 570,484, October 23, 1931. This application November 24, 1933, Scl'll N0. 699,311

10 Claims. (Cl. 28B-43.1)

My invention relates to the art of land vehicles bracket element and a fth wheel member which and it particularly has for its object to provide carriesl it.l a new and useful means for mounting or con- Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the necting any type of vehicle to a power unit. In mounting element.

5 other words, the object of this invention is to Figure 7 is a detail side elevation of my inven- 5 provide a permanent or detachable, exible and tion as applied to the mounting of the bracket resilient device for coupling and connecting commonly used withva conventional type of rockand/or supporting a trailer (or other vehicle or ing fth wheel. f device used for the purpose of or in connection Figure 8 is an elevation of the same looking in l with the transporting of passengers, freight, the direction of the arrow in Figure 7. 10 cattle or any other article or commodity) to and Eigure 9 is a. detail'longitudinal section on the with any self-propelled vehicle or any vehicle line 9-9 of 4Figure 8. I drawn by means of any known power. In the drawings, in which like numerals of Further, it is an object to improve the operareference indicate like'parts in all of the gures,

l tion of a tractor-trailer truck and a. semi-trailer I represents a trailer frame and 2 a truck or 15 by eliminating the shocks'and vibrations to which tractor frame. These frames are coupled toa combination of vehicles is'usually subjected, gether by means Voi' a flfth wheel type coupler thereby greatly reducing the maintenance cost which consists of two units, an upper unit and a of both vehicles. lower unit. In the arrangement of the invention 20 Further, it is an object to provide -means shown in Figure 1 the upper unit is'indicated by 20 45 member may take place, the normal position of whereby if the trailer gets out of alignment with the numeral 3 and the lower unit by the nuthe tractor suicient play 'is provided to act as meral 4, whereas in the embodiment shown in a hinge to enable the coupling to adapt itself to Figure Z'these units are indicated by .3a and la irregularities in alignment as well as to take respectively.

up the shocks 'of too sudden coupling. The upper unit includes a pin 6 while the lower 25 Other objects will in part be obvious and i.n unit has a plate or casting with a wedge shaped part be pointed out hereinafter. opening terminating into a slot which permits To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and pin to enter as in 5, and find its seat in the bearends, the invention still further resides in the ing portion of the lower unit in which place it is novel details of construction, combination and held by any suitable latch or locking device as 30 arrangement of parts, all of which will be iirst in 7. fully described in the following detailed descrip- As the specic constructions of the members tion, then be particularly pointed out in the ap- 3 and I' per se are immaterial to the present inpended claims, reference being had to the acvention, further illustration and descriptions companying drawings, inwhichthereof are deemed unnecessary. 35

Figure 1 is a side elevation somewhat diagram- My present invention resides in providing a matic showing my invention as applied 'bo the exible elastic Connection between One 0r the lower iifth wheel of a vehicle coupler. other or both of the fifth wheel members and Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the vehicle frames which carry them. This ilex- 40 the invention as applied tothe upper member ible and elastic connection comprises a cross 4o of a fifth wheel of a vehicle coupler. bracket consisting of a transverse web 8 and a Figure 3 is anenlarged cross section of the base Web 9 and end webs III, the base web being device showig how-the front and back rocking provided, if desired, with holes II in order that action of lower (resmently mounted) mth wheel when the bracket is embedded in cushion rubber I2 located in the sectional boxing I3 it will be 45 interlocked with that rubber mechanically and/ or irealfotinmnnjfigs fun unes and the by vuieanizstien, er if desired, two seperate rub- Figure 4 is a transverse section on the une ber blocks or cushions shaped to conform to the web 8 and the inside of the box I3, may be em- 4 4 of Figure 3 showing how horizontal rocking played. 50

`inaction of the fifth wheel member may take, place, The sectional boxin l, g I3 has ears I l forboltm the normal Positlon 0f the Darts bemg indicated to the vehicle frame and it has s iongitudinn i n 4full lines and the. tilted position in dotted opening Is with 1' ends I6 to `pass the webs s lines. vand I0 out of the boxing. The boxing is bolted Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the to the frame oi the vehicle by suitable bolts I1. 55

The boxing also has suitable lugs Il, having cross bolts I S which secure the edges of the boxing together.

designates reinforcing beads around the opening I .fi-l2.

As shown in Figure 1, the web may be formed on the underside of the lower plate 4 and the boxing be mounted on the truck frame 2, or as shown in Figure 2 the web may be a part of the upper plate 3 and the boxing mounted on the trailer frame I, as may be desired, or bothupper and lower fifth wheel members 3 and 4 may be provided with the flexible, resiliently-mounted web if so desired, but as that would be a mere combination of parts of Figures 1 and 2 further illustration is thought to be unnecessary.

My present invention may readily be applied to the mounting brackets of conventional type rocking fifth wheels. This is illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 inclusive, by reference to which it will be observed that 4-b represents the contact plate of the lower fifth wheel which has lugs 2l for the rocker shaft 29 that is mounted in the bearing portions 22 of the rocker shaft brackets. These brackets include the vertical webs 23 and base flanges 24 set in rubber blocks or resilient cushions of compressible material 2l within the boxes 25.

Ihe boxes 25 have removable cover plates 28 through which the cushions may be inserted and removed at will and the boxes also have flanges 21 by means of which they may be secured to the frame 2-b of the truck or tractor.

Spacer washers 3l areused whennecessary to compensate for variations in frame widths.

It will be observed that with the construction herein disclosed the resiliency-of the rubber blocks or cushions permits the plate of the fifth wheel mounted thereon to tilt at the angle required to lift and engage the pin which is a part of the other fifth wheel member. This tilting effect in fifth wheel structures used prior to my invention is obtained by the conventional and patented types of fifth wheel through cross shafts mounted on brackets to give the plate of the fifth wheel a hinge effect and the rocking or tilting is lim' ited to only one direction, namely forward or backward or up and down longitudinally with the tractor truck. In addition to this movement, the rubber blocks or cushions of my invention provide the necessary horizontal' or cross up and down or rocking motion which a coupler or fifth wheel connection is subjected to when one wheel of the truck or trailer drops into a depression or travels over a raised object.

The use of the flexible reslliently mounted fifth wheel member or members assures perfect alignment and a full contact surface between the lower plate 4 of the fifth wheel proper and the upper plate 2 and its pin I regardless of the difference in angle of the tractor and trailer at the time of contact or coupling.

The most unfavorable criticism of the conventional type of fifth wheel in use prior to my invention is the impact at the time of engaging. By the use of my rubber blocks or cushions this destructive shock is entirely eliminated because the plate on the lower fifth wheel unit and the trucktractor frame are completely insulated by these rubber blocks or cushions and at no time do they permit a metal to metal contact between the lower nfth wheel unit and the truck frame. These rubber blocks or cushions are so constructed that the cushioning eifect is constant right through to the point of absolute connection, thus the impact is no greater at the time of nal connection than at the time of the first Slight Contact. The construction of these rubber blocks or cushions allows for the displacement of rubber as the pressure of the tractor becomes greater at the time of engaging.

Furthermore, through the resiliency of these rubber blocks 'or cushions, the plate of the fifth wheel which is carried by the web embedded in the rubber is permitted to partially rotate or twist suiciently to create a better alignment in the event that at the time of the engaging process the pin of the other fifth wheel member is not directly in line with the guide slot on the resiliently mounted fifth wheel member.

The fth wheel member which is resiliently mounted resumes its normal position at the slightest forward movement of the tractor. This function is not possible to perform by the types of fifth wheels heretofore known, because the cross shafts are stationary and do not permit a rotating or twisting action. It must therefore bring about such alignment by lifting and sliding the entire trailer load into position and this creates a terrific strain on the coupling pin while travelling on one side or the other of the guiding slot until the pin has entirely engaged with the fifth wheel member 'with which it cooperates.

Further, after the tractor and trailer have been permanently connected, these rubber blocks or cushions act as a shock absorber while the trailer is in operation, practically eliminating road shocks and vertical and horizontal distortion of both the tractor and trailer chassis. This feature greatly reduces the wear on the tractor and trailer and materially lowers the maintenance costs.

While I have specifically disclosed a rubber filler inwhich the web is embedded other flexible resilient means may be employed (including springs or any liquid by hydraulic methods or otherwise), the essence of the invention in its broad aspect being the mounting of the fth wheel member on the vehicle through the medium of a flexible and resilient mounting means. 'Ihe flexible or resilientmaterials used in this -coupling are contained within a compartment or metal box suspended or attached in any suitable manner by plates of any material or brackets forming a connection between the plate and the 4bracket attached to the power unit, the plate of the fifth wheel having a sliding contact with one another.

While inthis description we have used the words box and/or receptacle to describe the part-in which the rubber or resilient material is contained, we desire to define the word box as meaning any receptacle or container of any shape or form or any other means of supporting or suspending the cushion material for the purpose of obtaining this flexibility.

This application is a substitute for my application filed October 23, 1931, Serial Number 570,484. In this application no specific claim is made to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures '1, 8 and 9, the specific claims being limited to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, it being the intention that this application shall contain only the claims generic to all species and those specific to the embodiments of the invention shown in Figures 1- to 6, inclusive.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

1. In vehicle couplings wherein is provided an upper and a lower coupling member adapted for cooperative connection, means to mountone of said members on one vehicle and means to mount the other of said members on another vehicle, at least one of said means including a stationary receptacle, a web of I-shape in horizontal cross section projecting rigidly from one of the coupling members into said receptacle, land a base web connected to said I-shaped web and located within the receptacle,l and elastic means in said receptacle for iioatingly mounting said webs in said receptacle, thereby elastically connecting the couof said bracket, that portion of the bracket which is embedded in the rubber i'lller comprising a base web and a web of I-shape in horizontal cross section projecting from the base web at right angles thereto.-

3. In vehicle couplings of-the mth wheel type, a lower mth wheel member and an lupper mth wheel member with provisions swivelly to conneet said mth wheel members together, a transverse bracket. carried by one of said mth wheel members, a supporting receptacle into which said bracket projects, a cushion rubber filler in said receptacle and embedding the projecting portion of said bracket, that portion of the bracket which is embedded in the rubber illlercomprising a base web and a web of I-shape in horizontal section projecting from the base at vright langles thereto said receptacle comprising separable sections, means securing said sections vdetachably together, means whereby said receptacleand the other of said fifth wheel members may respectively be secured to the vehicles to be cou-` pled. 4

4. In vehicle couplings, an upper coupling member and a lower coupling member carried respectively by a pair of vehicles, the lower member including a transversely disposed bracket, a transversely disposed supporting receptacle on one vehicle having an opening at its top through which said bracket projects, elastic. resilient means held within the receptacle, and supporting the part of said bracket which is within the receptacle, and means to anchor said bracket to said elastic resilient means, said elastic resilient means comprising av suitable incompressible filler andsaid bracket including a flange of greater area than that of the receptacle opening, that portion of the bracket which is located within the receptacle comprising a base web and a web of I-shape in cross-section extending from the base web at right angles thereto.

5. In vehicle couplings, an upper fifth wheel couplingmember and a lower mth wheel coupling member carried respectively by a pair of vehicles, the upper memberl including a transversely disposed bracket, a transversely disposed supporting receptacle located on one vehicle and having an opening through which said bracket projects, incompressible elastic resilient means held within `the receptacle and suspending the part of said bracket which .is within the re'- ceptacle, and means to anchorsaid bracket to said incompressible elastic resilient means.

6. In vehicle couplings, an upper coupling member and a lower coupling member carried respectively by a pair of vehicles, the upper unit including a bracket, a supporting receptacle on the vehicle having an opening through which said bracket projects, incompressible elastic resilient means held within the receptacle and floating the part of said bracket which is within the receptacle, and means to anchor said bracket to said elastic resilient means, said elastic resilient means comprising a suitable iiller'and said bracket including a ange of greater area than that of the box opening. 1 l

7. In mth wheel structures, a lower unit and an upper unit, one of said units having a pivot pin provided with a shank and a head, the other unit having a slotway flared at its outer end and constricted at its inner end to iit the shank of said pin, a releasable pin retaining device on said which' said base ange is located, a cushion rubber ller in said box and embedding the projecting portion of said bracket andsaid base ange, the projecting portion of Saidbracket being of I-shape in horizontal cross section.

8. In mth wheel structures, a lower unit and an upper unit, one of said units having a pivot pin provided with a shank and a head, theother unit having a slotway flared at its outer end and constricted at its inner end to t the shank oisaid pin, a releasable pin retaining device on saidl other unit, a transverse bracket carried by said other unit, and a supporting box into which said bracket projects, a cushion rubber illler `in said box and embedding the projecting portion of said bracket, said box comprising separable sections, means securing said sections detachably together, and means by which said box may be mounted on and between the sides of the frame of a tractor.

9. In vehicle couplings of the mth wheel type, a lower mth wheel member-and an upper mth wheel member with provisions swivelly connecting such mth wheel members together, a transverse bracket-carried by one of said mth wheel members, a supporting receptacle into which said bracket projects, a cushion rubber illler in said receptacle and embedding the projecting portion of said bracket, said bracket being mounted to float in said receptacle.

10. In vehicle couplings wherein is provided an upper and a lower mth wheel coupling member adapted for cooperative connection, means to` mount one o! -said mth wheel members on one vehicle and means to mount the other. of said mth wheel members on another vehicle, at least bedding said web vwhereby the web is mounted in universal movement.

said receptacle for LUBBERT E. LUBBERS. 

